The document discusses the importance of charity, kindness, and philanthropy. It notes that while many people want to help their communities, they often feel like they don't have enough time, money, or ideas to make a difference. However, small acts of generosity can have large impacts over time by influencing others. The document encourages people to get involved in their communities through volunteering or donations, as every small contribution helps create positive change.

1. kindness,
charity &
philanthropy
musings on the importance of giving
openly and doing good
by beth honig

2. Many (if not most) of us
want to make the world a
better place. We have
hearts of gold and we
want to lend a helping
hand to someone in need.
But our actions don’t
always measure up to our
good intentions.

3. There’s usually something that keeps
us from getting more involved with
our communities. Whether that
something is a lack of time (“I’m too
busy!)” or a lack of resources (“I don’t
have the necessary
talent/money/ideas!”) or a lack of
information (“I don’t know know
where to start!”), we hold off from
volunteering with various causes or
becoming more active in our
neighborhood activities. Rather than
saying, “Sign me up,” we say, “next
time…” or “if only…”

4. Notice that I’m using the word “we,” right?nd I’m saying
“we” because the I‐want‐to‐get‐involved‐but‐I‐don’t‐
have‐time dilemma is something we all share. Although I
strive to be very involved with many great causes, I
understand the challenges that keep others from being
less active. Being overwhelmed, overworked and
overscheduled is par for the course for many of us these
days.
I’m saying “we” because the I‐want‐to‐get‐involved‐but‐I‐
don’t‐have‐time dilemma is something all of us share.
Although I strive to be very involved with many great
causes, I understand the challenges that keep people from
being less philanthropically minded or active in their
communities. Being overwhelmed, overworked and
overscheduled is par for the course for most of us these
days.

5. the action or business of promoting and
selling products or services, including
market research and advertising.
(noun)
marketing

6. In a poll
conducted last
year by the Los
Angeles Times,
nearly half of the local respondents who were surveyed
about why they were not getting involved in their
communities said one of the primary reasons is that they
were too busy. Among the other results were forty-two
percent of poll-takers who said they didn’t have enough
money to contribute to various causes, and then 39% said
they weren’t even sure what they could do to help. Lastly,
there was a slightly smaller group of respondents (31%) who
said that they weren’t getting involved because they didn’t
feel like they could make a difference.

7. Business writer
Steve Tobak puts
it this way:
"Think about it. When one person influences a few others, there
are two major effects:
1. A ripple effect that, over time, can actually impact thousands
over generations.
1. A broadening effect since one person influences many, like
multiplying tree branches.
Here’s an exercise for you. Think about all the people you may
have had an impact on in your life. Employees, coworkers,
bosses, vendors, customers, family, friends. Lots and lots of
people. And they’re just part of the equation. You may have
influenced dozens of others without even realizing it."

8. TOUCHING
LIVES AND
MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IN
THE WORLD
DOESN’T
NECESSARILY
HAPPEN IN
LEAPS AND
BOUNDS.

9. "I long to accomplish a great and
noble task, but it is my chief duty to
accomplish small tasks as if they
were great and noble."
Helen Keller once
said:

10. There’s an abundance of inspiring sayings
like Keller’s about the importance of
practicing generosity in our everyday
lives. I’ll be sharing these sayings from
time to time here on my blog. Some of the
quotations will be from famous people
and some of them will come from some
not so famous sources....

11. like this beautiful
sentiment from
Talmud:
"The reward of charity depends entirely
upon the extent of the kindness in it."

12. Charitable
involvement is
near to my heart.
For me, the
reward is a sense
of connection and
togetherness that
reminds me that
I’m a small part of
a larger good.

13. onward.
bethhonigcharity.com